Home break ins

[UTfball68]

Interesting night tonight. The family and I were out celebrating the BIL’s 30th. Got home right at 830. I notice my motion lights are on at 2 corners of my house. They have a 3 minute run time when triggered. Thought it was weird so the wife and kid stay in the car as I walk the perimeter of the house. All clear. Wife tells me to check out the house before she goes in, even though We do have an alarm on every door and window and nothing was tripped. Anyway, I go inside, my Great Dane is losing her mind, usually she’s in her bed or on a couch chilling when I get home. I check the first floor, my doorbell rings, it’s a lady from across the street to let me know my next door neighbor’s alarm was triggered at 630, they’re out of town, so she let the cops in (was given permission/approval by my neighbor) when they showed up, found a broken window but didn’t appear anything was out of place. So then I just ‘knew’ someone was snooping my house. My house has cameras at all four corners, so i check the game film...nothing. But there are blind spots with the range of view my cameras have, so I guess those will be getting upgraded. Not really sure how to feel or what to think at this point, but do know this neighborhood is the kind that will utilize the full extent of the NC Castle Doctrine. We’re a small town outside of Salisbury with 1100 people. This kind of stuff isn’t supposed to happen here, when I was growing up in the area we barely shut the screen doors, much less worried about anyone trying to take our stuff.

 

[junkxj]

I can imagine that will leave a very unsettled feeling with you for a while. At least you and the family were away and are safe. Can't say I would ever have the balls to go into a house currently ocuppied by a great Dane, unless I knew the pup very well.....

 

[1-tonmudder]

Interesting night tonight. The family and I were out celebrating the BIL’s 30th. Got home right at 830. I notice my motion lights are on at 2 corners of my house. They have a 3 minute run time when triggered. Thought it was weird so the wife and kid stay in the car as I walk the perimeter of the house. All clear. Wife tells me to check out the house before she goes in, even though We do have an alarm on every door and window and nothing was tripped. Anyway, I go inside, my Great Dane is losing her mind, usually she’s in her bed or on a couch chilling when I get home. I check the first floor, my doorbell rings, it’s a lady from across the street to let me know my next door neighbor’s alarm was triggered at 630, they’re out of town, so she let the cops in (was given permission/approval by my neighbor) when they showed up, found a broken window but didn’t appear anything was out of place. So then I just ‘knew’ someone was snooping my house. My house has cameras at all four corners, so i check the game film...nothing. But there are blind spots with the range of view my cameras have, so I guess those will be getting upgraded. Not really sure how to feel or what to think at this point, but do know this neighborhood is the kind that will utilize the full extent of the NC Castle Doctrine. We’re a small town outside of Salisbury with 1100 people. This kind of stuff isn’t supposed to happen here, when I was growing up in the area we barely shut the screen doors, much less worried about anyone trying to take our stuff.

Wait till your wife comes home (with a 10 week old baby) and the door is standing open and your shit is loaded in open suit cases on the bed.

 

[Infamous1]

We had several doors kicked in around here awhile back. Seemed to be a smash and grab kinda deal. Grabbed guns, laptops, game consoles and jewelry. Never had anything like that around here before. Newest neighbor actually said I lied to him when I told him we never had anything stolen around here except neighborhood kids stold gas for their gokart a time or two (haha not even the cans just the gas). LEO Seemed to think it was same couple of guys that have hit several areas within a very large area. Makes for some rethinking thats for sure. My wife was home in bed with sinus infection the day it happened directly across the street and she heard a car spin out of the drive but never got up to look (they have loud vehicle and leave pretty hard) scared her when she found out what it was. I hate a thief, we try to shuffle cars around and I put motion lights on the driveway and entrances to the house, but if they want it they will figure out a way.

 

[ckruzer]

Cameras are cool. They help with solving a case. Safe's are cool, but materials can always be replaced. But coming home to something in action... Lets talk deterrents:

>motion activated lights
>video record / alarm stickers on every window and door.
>lockable window jammers (think switch not stick) you can keep keys on each wall next to windows for ease of use
>non wireless code entry door locks, remove ability to pick locks.
>if you get an alarm system, get motion detector alarms. put in all rooms but main room (dont want dog making it go off) turn on motions when not home.
>make sure "motions" systems of alarm system can be turned on seperate from window/door sensors.
>for when you are home and cant use motions, invest in "mini alarms" via motion detectors. each are a separate alarm like a smoke detector. You can post up in the garage.
>your garage usually has a pull rope for disconnect and these are easily accessible. build a plate to cover the rope hang down to prevent "hook" access.

Anyways. I highly recommend spending time on deterrents. Even a camera "not" hooked up but up in the corners of your door entry ways (side door, front door, rear door, garage door, etc) can be a big deterent.

 

[RatLabGuy]

So, serious question - are visual deterrents are any of the above really a deterrent for the "smash and grab" kind of approach?
I get the impression those kinds of folks just don't give a fuck. Wear a mask/hat and just plan to be out fast.
I'd think the only real deterrent from those guys is a steel reinforced door and frame, window bars etc.
And evidence of a dog big and mean enough to not want to risk it (Yes, I know @Ron will argue they could just shoot it, but at least it's a deterrent to moving quickly)

 

[ckruzer]

I️ would propose that would be a ameuter or druggie type thief. You can’t stop stupid except my making it impossible to enter. I️ suggested window jammers to prevent breaking a window and unlocking. But the guy willing to climb through a shattered window is the one I️ feel you can’t stop short of window bars.

Basically the way I was taught, increasing the length of time in order to accomplish entry is the only true deterrent there is. And if you can have a motion detector light shine on a point of entry and an alarm go off at attempted entry... thats the best you can do you make them say “screw this”.

I️ did forget to mention steel reinforced door framing.

 

[Loganwayne]

So, serious question - are visual deterrents are any of the above really a deterrent for the "smash and grab" kind of approach?
I get the impression those kinds of folks just don't give a fuck. Wear a mask/hat and just plan to be out fast.
I'd think the only real deterrent from those guys is a steel reinforced door and frame, window bars etc.
And evidence of a dog big and mean enough to not want to risk it (Yes, I know @Ron will argue they could just shoot it, but at least it's a deterrent to moving quickly)

I would say yes.

There are 6 houses on my street, we are on a pass threw street so it gets traffic but not a ton for being in town. But there is a trailer park within walking distance 3/10 mile from us, suppose to be one of the worst in the county (neighbor is a cop). There has been 5 break ins 3 on the same house. I have a adt sign in my yard, they skipped my house. Broke into both my neighbors on either side of me but didn't mess with mine. I'd say the sign worked.



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[Loganwayne]

So, serious question - are visual deterrents are any of the above really a deterrent for the "smash and grab" kind of approach?
I get the impression those kinds of folks just don't give a fuck. Wear a mask/hat and just plan to be out fast.
I'd think the only real deterrent from those guys is a steel reinforced door and frame, window bars etc.
And evidence of a dog big and mean enough to not want to risk it (Yes, I know @Ron will argue they could just shoot it, but at least it's a deterrent to moving quickly)

I would say yes.

There are 6 houses on my street, we are on a pass threw street so it gets traffic but not a ton for being in town. But there is a trailer park within walking distance 3/10 mile from us, suppose to be one of the worst in the county (neighbor is a cop). There has been 5 break ins 3 on the same house. I have a adt sign in my yard, they skipped my house. Broke into both my neighbors on either side of me but didn't mess with mine. I'd say the sign worked.



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[Atla]

A fellow Marine of mine wrote this a few days back, there is some easy stuff you can do to help secure and detour.
https://appalachiantacticalacademy.com/hardening-your-castle/
Hardening Your Castle - Appalachian Tactical Academy

Also, if you are into shooting, they offer some classes. I plan on going next year to a few, so come with.

 

[kaiser715]

Good points in the link above, except the part about only closing the driveway gate only when you are gone. Even meth heads can learn that pattern, and know that means you are gone.

Burglers care less and less about alarm systems I think. Still effective to some degree, but they know they can smash and grab, and most of the time the neighbors won't even look outside to see whose alarm is going off this time. At least they won't have time to really do a deep search, work on the gun safe, etc.

 

[awheelterd]

Good points in the link above, except the part about only closing the driveway gate only when you are gone. Even meth heads can learn that pattern, and know that means you are gone.

Burglers care less and less about alarm systems I think. Still effective to some degree, but they know they can smash and grab, and most of the time the neighbors won't even look outside to see whose alarm is going off this time. At least they won't have time to really do a deep search, work on the gun safe, etc.

My thoughts exactly on the gate. When we get our house built I plan to fence then entire road frontage and gate the driveway and leave it closed all the time. Most people i know that have been robbed werent robbed while they were on vacation for a week, it was while they were at work during the day. I figure if I can keep the prospective theives vehicle at the road, it would be too much of a pita to carry all.my schit 200 yrds for my house to be an attractive target.

 

[junkxj]

I use one of these. Works well for the crack head want to be crooks.

 

[orange150]

There was an AskReddit question the other week that was something along the lines of "security system workers of Reddit, what should we do to secure our homes".
Basically the biggest thing? Get a dog. One of the responses was, paraphrasing, "of all the calls I received of break-ins vs. attempted break-ins, the biggest difference was the dog".

And anecdotally, when I lived in my house years ago (before the wife... and the dog) with a roommate we got broken into, and NOTHING was stolen. Meaning: thieves (it was at least two) kicked in our side door, snooped around, and found absolutely nothing of value to steal from us.
Proud moment right there.

 

[Atla]

Basically the biggest thing? Get a dog. One of the responses was, paraphrasing, "of all the calls I received of break-ins vs. attempted break-ins, the biggest difference was the dog".

But please, no yappers. We've an English Mastiff with a ferocious bark, but he's a big pansy. (He's actually a runt too. About 160lbs, his dad was 203lbs)

Have you guys seen this?
German Shepherd leaves house splattered with blood after attacking intruder while his owners were out

Look at the blood spray on the walls!

 

[UTfball68]

So as the dust settles...the cops I've talked to say there are 3 possible scenarios here 1) Gang activity has tripled in the last few years in Salisbury, so a possible initiation or smash and grab for quick cash 2) Tweaker looking for some quick cash in a smash and grab 3) Probably the most likely scenario, neighbor was out of town for a few days, some kids noticed and was intended to be a smash and grab, but the alarm scared them off and is ultimately just vandalism.

Awfully coincidental my motion lights were triggered, but I reckon I'll chalk it up to all the activity or an animal, but still would have expected to see something on my cameras.

 

[UTfball68]

But please, no yappers. We've an English Mastiff with a ferocious bark, but he's a big pansy. (He's actually a runt too. About 160lbs, his dad was 203lbs)

As for dogs...the two on the outside are mine. Left is the Dane when she was about a year old and 100lbs The one on the right is my Mastidane at about 150lbs.
Those two going ape shit over a squirrel generally unnerves even the biggest dog lovers with no malicious intent.

For reference, the dog in the middle is my mom’s black lab/golden retriever mix.

But don’t tell them they’re mean, nasty killers...haha

 

[ManglerYJ]

So as the dust settles...the cops I've talked to say there are 3 possible scenarios here 1) Gang activity has tripled in the last few years in Salisbury, so a possible initiation or smash and grab for quick cash 2) Tweaker looking for some quick cash in a smash and grab 3) Probably the most likely scenario, neighbor was out of town for a few days, some kids noticed and was intended to be a smash and grab, but the alarm scared them off and is ultimately just vandalism.

Awfully coincidental my motion lights were triggered, but I reckon I'll chalk it up to all the activity or an animal, but still would have expected to see something on my cameras.

I'm going with option 2. I've been seeing a LOT more tweaker activity here in Lexington than I ever had in Detroit. I used to work in a really bad neighborhood that was ridden with gangs. As a white guy of average size, they pretty much left me alone as long as it was one on one. If a group of gang members is hanging around, they will try to intimidate and talk smack, but by myself I was pretty much no threat to their "turf". Tweakers worry me more than anything, however because they are so unpredictable. They are after one thing and that is a fix - in their eyes, a cheap fix is so despirately needed that they will take any means necessary to get it.

 

[Ron]

Would be cool to get @burrellsjeep to chime in here.

Ive been out of that world for gulp 12 damn years now.

 

[frankenyoter]

When I leave town for a while I move the tow rig to the driveway and leave some freshly spent brass sprinkled around the gate and by the entry door.

My secretary had issues with some sketchy stuff at night at her house. I gave her some freshly spent 556 brass which she dispersed. No more sketchy stuff.

Most dirtbag low life no gooders want it easy. Anything that makes it look hard will keep them moving to an easier target.

Unless you are the mark...